Sharing the results from my latest Moth Trap Session. I have written posts about setting up a moth trap and on collecting the results if you want some more background info on how and why I use a Moth Trap
Date: 2nd June 2022
Weather:
Well, I was going to set up the Trap tonight, but the weather has been appalling ALL weekend. Cold, windy and very, very wet. So instead I'll writ up a session from a few days ago - Thursday 2nd June to be exact.
Weather wise, it was a much better day. I had mown the lawn in the afternoon, and saw 4 different species of moth disturbed from the grass and the nearby vegetation, such as a Heart & Dart and this Large Yellow Underwing seen below.
The evening promised overcast skies, wind coming from the South-east and reasonably warm temperatures, I was expecting good results tonight!
Large Yellow Underwing - Noctua pronuba
Results: 50 moths of 25 species
Summary of Results:
Well as you can see, it was a very productive night. The increase in numbers compared to a few weeks back is obvious, and a clear sign we are on our way to the peak season which will arrive July/August time.
Right as the sun set, there was plenty of activity around the trap. In the Spring I would see 1 or 2 fluttering around at any one point, but now it becomes much more frantic with moths whizzing all over the place.
Common Emerald- Hemithea aestivaria
Yellow Shell - Camptogramma bilineata
Green Pug - Pasiphila rectangulata
Most of the moths seen (including those above) are all fairly common and expected for this location at this time of year. As I've been doing this for 5 years now, I start to have a 'feel' for them. Its amazing how memory works... I can be sat there watching the moths fly about, and even though I may not have seen some species since this time last year, I can pick out most of the species that I've seen before.
This means its always exciting when I see a moth I can not immediately name, as that is generally a sign of a new species that I haven't seen before.
Such as this one:
Tachystola acroxantha
Tachystola acroxantha
This neatly marked little moth, appeared halfway through the session approximately 11pm. I quickly potted him up and brought him inside, and after rifling through a couple of books and I found a name.
I doubled checked a website I frequently use here
I always like a 2nd opinion!
And the website confirmed my ID was correct - Tachystola acroxantha
So a nice busy evening with lots of data to record, and a new species to my garden list too, what more could I ask for 😁
I'll be back with another report next week so I'll see you then (keep your fingers crossed that the weather improves haha!)
Notes on Pictures: Since I started moth trapping 5 years ago, I have been slowly building up collection of Library Images. The idea being that once I have taken a picture of a particular species of Moth, I don't need another picture of the same species a year later. It’s a waste of time and energy. I only take pictures of new species, or of moths that are difficult to ID, so I can get the records verified.
While in my care, all individuals are looked after, and after Photographs have been taken, they are all released safely outside.
All names confirmed and checked via Wikispieces
Further Research from UK Moths and NatureSpot
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